If you could sum up Bad Luck and Trouble in three words, what would they be?

You Don't Mess ...with the special investigators

What other book might you compare Bad Luck and Trouble to and why?

Out of the Reacher novels, I would recommend The Enemy, which is the first Prequel written by Child, it introduces some of the characters in this novel.

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

Always a fantastic performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Bad Luck and Trouble continues a string of good Reacher Novels. For the first time we see Reacher in an entirely different setting - part of a team - not as he is usually portrayed as a loner with a side piece. This book was very enjoyable, but about 2/3 through, Child slowed down the narrative way too much - He spent an hour describing how the team acquires some guns. The biggest question I have is why is Reacher always broke!? In the last book he received a million dollars, 4 or 5 books ago he inherited a $400,000 house from Garber. Dude should have plenty of dough.Biggest takeaway from this book was the toothbrush scene - I haven’t laughed that hard in any previous Reacher novel....those bastards!!!! Hilarious.

If you could sum up Bad Luck and Trouble in three words, what would they be?

Better than others (in the series)

What did you like best about this story?

A bit more history on Reacher. Good questions as to why he remains a loner wanderer that are not really resolved, but at least asked.

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

Honestly, if not for Dick Hill performing, I probably would have dropped off the series after Reacher was shot in the chest with a .38 within a room, and the round failed to penetrate his skin.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Nope, and didn't. I listen to books as entertainment on my commute.

Any additional comments?

It's a good book. Worth a credit. One day, I'll try and learn why the author seems to think every law enforcement agency in the US is corrupt, but I got over that by book 4 and just go with the flow. The title just seems to be something to call the book rather than anything really pertinent to the story.

I already listened to several Lee Child stories and am going to try some more. Dick Hill reads nicely and fitting to Jack Reacher's character.

Was Bad Luck and Trouble worth the listening time?

It was light entertainment but I had to fast forward over the scenes describing torturing.

Any additional comments?

The story is ok'ish but a bit too simple and in many ways unrealistic. For example why did Reacher not find time to reload the gun before going downstairs to meet the two ladies?

And I really don't like torturing scenes. Why does every author of a thriller story nowadays feel the need to describe horrible torturing scenes? I'm not a surgeon and do not enjoy detailed descriptions of how it looks when a human being is being cut open.

Lee Child is getting lazy or just doesn't seem to care. 11th bmook in the series AMD now all of the sudden Reacher is the next rainman with numbers. Child just pulled that out of thin air with no setup in past books. I also wish Child would think up something other than Reacher killing anyone who remotely offends him. Gets old fast.

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

Bad Luck and Trouble opens with a horrific action sequence. Let's just say that Child has a way of dropping a bomb in the opening pages.

Reacher is contacted by Frances Nagley, a woman from his old unit. She's tracked him down in a unique way. Fans of arithmetic puzzles will liked this. Nagley tells him of what's happening to the men in their old unit. She and Reacher try to reunite with the rest of his old team, but they're almost too late.

Reacher's unit had the motto: "You don't mess with the unit." The people who have targeted Reacher and his team learn this truth a little too late.

I enjoyed the story up to the time when they make silly statements that are false altogether. A helicopter will autorotate safely to the ground (provided the pilot is competent and there are no other issues other than the engine quitting-regardless of why it quit) easier from a higher altitude than a lower one. Glide to drop ratio is about 1:3 (1 forward and 3 down), you have to keep rotor RPM up and for your best chance higher is better (gives you more time to make radio calls and select a suitable area for your landing site). Otherwise great story.

I've read or listened to most of the Reacher series and anxiously await new additions. While the book does provide good background on Reacher's military past and the Special Investigative unit, I found the story itself is boring and slow paced. Not much action or intrigue to hold my interest. Not to give anything away, but the culprits seem like a bumbling group of Keystone Cops - you're left wondering how they could be such a formidable opponent.